Ape shtick: orangutans use mime to communicate
Marcel Marceau can check off another trait he and the Pongo genus have in common. After 20 years of observing ex-captive Orangutans in Borneo, Dr. Anne Russon of York University observed 18 cases where these primates used mime to communicate, a medium previously considered unique to humans.
One orangutan used a stick like a machete to mime to her human counterpart that her coconut needed opening, while another mimed scratching her back until the researcher reluctantly attended to her itch. These gestures, some of which became quite complicated, demonstrate that great ape communication is more complex than was previously believed, and may provide further insight into the evolution of human language.
In a CBC interview Dr. Russon noted, “[These abilities] could have evolved uniquely in humans, but the kind of evidence we have with orangutans now, and in some cases with chimpanzees, and gorillas and bonobos all suggest that all the great apes can [mime]… they’ve got the roots of it, so that could be something like the platform on which the human system then built.” — Ariel Lewis
Source: BBC News, and CBC’s Quirks and Quarks
Bed bugs hit the sack: how immature females avoid sexual trauma from older males
In a recent study, researchers from Lund University in Sweden found that sexually immature female bed bugs, called nymphs, have an adaptive chemical signalling system to protect themselves from traumatic insemination, the form of copulation in this species.
Traumatic insemination in bed bugs requires the male to pierce the female’s abdomen with his penis in order to inject sperm through the wound. Since nymphs are similar in size to adult female bed bugs, they are targeted by males for mating. The problem lies in the fact that nymphs have not yet developed specific mating adaptations, and are often injured due to the forcefulness of the male, which can even decrease life span.
The chemicals emitted serve as an age signaller, to let males know that they are not ready for insemination. This reduces unwanted attention, as well as the energy costs that males would have spent in attempted copulation. This research finding is an insightful look into the importance and mechanisms of intra-specific communication in the common bed bug that may be lingering in your mattress. — Cristina Olteanu
Source: BioMed Central
Cocoa genome sequenced three years ahead of schedule. Bring on the chocolate!
Two years ago, Mars Inc., the makers of M&Ms, put $10 million into funding a project that would determine the genome for the cocoa tree. The project was supposed to last five years, but instead only required two. The entire cocoa genome is now sequenced. Cocoa production has diminished in recent years due to pests and disease, resulting in loss of revenue for farmers. Marc, Inc. hopes that the genome will help produce cocoa plants that are resistant to pests and disease. The project, which was facilitated in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, IBM, and researchers at universities across the country, should allow for a greater and more robust cocoa yield.— Charlotte Tombs
Source: The Globe and Mail
Artificial skin gives robots a sense of touch
Engineers at UC Berkley and Stanford have created a skin that gives robots a sense of touch, similar to that of a human.
To create the skin, nanowires, which are microscopically small wires, are formed from an alloy of magnesium and silicon. These are then arranged in a uniform pattern and coated with pressure-sensitive rubber.
This new development would allow robots to determine how much force should be applied to a particular object, so that it is handled properly. Scientists hope that in the future this technology can be used to help restore sense of touch to individuals with prosthetic limbs. — CT
Source: The Globe and Mail
